Take your traditional timeline project on the Civil War to the next level! From the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861 to the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865, your class members will research a particular event and then teach their...

Choosing sides is no easy matter, and this was certainly true for the citizens of Baltimore in the beginning stages of the Civil War. Using video, group analysis of several primary sources, and discussion, this detailed and thorough...

Pose the question to your historians: who really freed the slaves? They critically assess various arguments, using primary sources as evidence. In small groups, scholars jigsaw 5 primary source documents (linked), and fill out an...

Young historians consider the cause and effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. They use handouts, response sheets, and class discussion to build an opinion about the subject after viewing the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln:...

Complete with territory maps, photos, and interesting anecdotes, this video covers the major events of American History, roughly from 1754 to 1865. Plymouth and Jamestown are mentioned in the beginning of the video, but the speaker...

Did Lincoln know that victory for the Union was imminent? According to this video, which discusses the end of the Civil War (including a great anecdote about a historic coincidence between the beginning and end of the war), many...

Games are a great way to motivate learners to internalize information.. Using this PowerPoint which is in a Jeopardy format, students can review map skills and facts about the Civil War, famous places, and our government. This is a handy...

Engage young historians in learning about America's sixteenth president with this fun Reader's Theater script. The second play in this series puts a modern spin on learning about history, involving a game show where three contestants try...

Pay tribute to the sixteenth president of the United States with this fun song and activity. From his birth in a Kentucky log cabin and childhood in Indiana, to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and his eventual assassination,...

"History can teach us much more than just the facts. It's full of examples of how to live better." One of the greatest benefits of studying history is the inspiration we can draw from those who have worked to make a difference in the...

The Gettysburg Address is a powerful text. Use it to teach persuasion and the importance of word choice. The lesson detailed here includes a scaffolded background knowledge activity that includes image analysis of photos from the Civil...

Could you win a million dollars by being good at your US history? Maybe not, but kids can pretend they will, as they play Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Civil War Edition. There are 15 fantastic questions about slavery, Lincoln, the...

The story of Abe Lincoln serves as the backdrop to this vocabulary-in-context activity as you read David Adler's A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln. Scholars learn these politically themed words before listening to you read the story...

Young scholars explore the suspension of habeas corpus. In this American history lesson, students examine how President Lincoln handled constitutional issues during the Civil War as they research, debate, and write about the topic.

Mark Twain's life, politics, writing, and role as a mirror of pre- and post-Civil War American culture are the focus 11th and 12th graders in this section from an expansive author study. A critical writing assignment comparing Twain to...

Students examine and discuss the letters and speeches of Abraham Lincoln to determine his position on slavery. They participate in a panel discussion, and plan one of Lincoln's major political campaigns, creating ads and writing a...

Students determine how President Lincoln promoted emancipation. In this slavery lesson, students examine primary documents, including the U.S. Constitution, to reconstruct Lincoln's attempts to end slavery and deliver the Emancipation...

Students explore Abraham Lincoln's role as Commander in Chief. For this American Civil War lesson, students listen to an instructor-delivered lecture on Lincoln's leadership and then analyze 8 pirmary documents to determine what...

Students take a closer look at historical relations between the United States and Mexico. In this Texas annexation activity, students examine primary documents authored by Zachary Taylor, James Polk, and Abraham Lincoln to consider why...

Include this activity about Walt Whitman's immortal "O Captain! My Captain!" in your poetry or transcendentalism unit. Containing a short biography about Whitman as well as the text of the poem, the worksheet prompts learners to answer...

True to its titles, this engaging and appealing presentation brings the 1860's into close focus with a number of images and statistics that would delight any Civil War buff. A few graphs allow for pupil input, such as listing the...

Begin your unit on the Civil War with this informative PowerPoint that includes key elements leading to the war. This slideshow takes us from Abraham Lincoln to Fort Sumter. Each slide contains a corresponding graphic and clear fact.

Detailing the political and social events leading up to the Civil War, this presentation provides students with maps, political cartoons, and photographs to put this time period into historical context. The Presidential Elections of...

Although specific to a certain book, this test and review relating to the Civil War could used in any classroom. The questions asked are appropriate for students learning about this era in U.S. History. Questions could be altered, or...